Machine for rolling and setting leather



2,540,13La5i Feb. 6, 1951 M. MOMATH ETAL MACHINE FOR ROLLING AND SETTING LEATHER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 30, 1948 a R Q.

Wh kw ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 6, 195% M. MCMATH ETAL MACHINE FOR ROLLING AND SETTING LEATHER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 30. 1948 M. MGMATH ET AL 2,540,132

MACHINE FOR ROLLING AND SETTING. LEATHER 5 Sheets -Sheet 5 Feb. 6, 1951 Filed March 30, 1948 ATTORNES- Feb, 6, 1951 M. MCMATH ETAL mcum: FOR ROLLING AND SETTING LEATHER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 30, 1948 ATTORNEYS- Feb. 6, 1951 M. MGMATH ET AL 2,540,132

MACHINE FOR ROLLING AND SETTING LEATHER not engage the edge.

f atented Feb. 6 195i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 2,540,132 MACHINE FOR ROLLING AND SETTING LEATHER;

-Marl M'cMath, Newport,- Ky and John C. Hen

ning and Charles R. Sims, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignors to The American Oak Leather G0mpany, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 30, 1948, SerialNo. 18,036

We have found that in rolling leather pieces asthey move continuously in a straight line through a machine that, While the roller heads may be moved substantially at right angles to the direction of feedingmovement of the leather pieces, it is preferable to arrange the rollers at a slight angle to each other and toward the direction from which the leather pieces are fed, so that in engaging the leather pieces the slippage of the roller uponthe pieces during feeding. is

minimized.

One improvement therefore which it is: our object to accomplish, is to minimizes'li ppage of the roller upon; the leather pieces during the rolling, at the same tim so arranging the feed rollers that increased feeding speeds may be maintained.

Further it is our object to provide an arrangement in which the pressure on the rolling heads may be quickly released so that when: the: feed conveyor is blocked the removal of the leather piece causing the blockage may be quickly accomplished.

The total extended path of travel of the heads carrying the rollers is greater than the width of the leather pieces, and since it is undesiralo'lev to excessively com-press or squeeze down. the edges of the leather pieces because they will. not then measure upto proper gauge thickness, we pro:- vide an arrangement by which this avoided. By the provision of two rollers, or two sets of rollers, on each head and by mounting the rollers at slightlydivergent angles to the path of travel of the head and rocking the roller carriage .first clockwise and then. counterclockwise. We. are able to avoid having the rollers with rolling pressure applied engage the edges of the leather pieces, whereby compressing. the edgesis: avoided. While a roller is. rolling over the surface ot a leather piece and passes across the edge, the roller does It is only when the roller is approaching the edge from. the other direction that We inhibit its engagement with the edge.

The foregoing objects: and other objects which 11 Claims. (01. 69-46) Figures 1. and 3. r

- z improve the: quality of the rolling and finishing operation, which: decrease the cost and which greatly increase the output and which will be described more detail in the following description, We accomplish by that certain combination and arrangement of parts of which we have illus tratecl a preferred embodiment. In the drawings: Figure l a side elevation showing thegeneral arrangement of the machine.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational- View taken from the left sideof the machine shown in Figure showing-certain details of the driving means. v 5

Figure 3 is a sectional: view on. an. enlarged scale, taken. along the line 3-.3' of Figure 1 showing details and the mounting of the feed rolls. 1

Figure 4. is a plan view showing our improved mounting for the leather finishing rolls. Figure 5: is a diagrammatic view showing: the path of travel of the finishing rollers. Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view taken. along the line 6*& of Figure- 3. .11

Figure '7 is av section as would appear along line '|l' of Figure 6; being on a reduced: scale and illustrating the principle of operation of photoelectric cells for automatically stopping. the machine on occasions when. the work piece: become displaced from the required pathof travel or has buckled.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevational view taken from the right side: of. the machine as shown-"in Figure 1,. showing details of the drive arrangement and. pneumatic actuatingv mechanism.

Figure 9 is a. sectional view takenalong; the line 9 91 of Figure 6, showing a pair of leather finishing rolls and the carriage in which they are carriage.

Figure 13 is asection taken alongv line |3-''?l of.Figure*12.-

1 Referring to Figure 1:, the machinehas abase structure generally indicated at [0. For purposes of. simplifying the description, right and left as used in the following description,. will refer to the right andleft of the machine as shownin Extending. upwardly from thebase H1 aiserie's of columns l l serveto: support an elevated framework $21. Mountedupon this framework lithere is provided a series of feed roller units, to be described later in detail and for the present purpose designated generally at A, B, C, D, E, F and G. Each feed roller unit comprises an upper and a lower roller between which the leather work pieces are engaged and advanced through the machine from left to right.

Intermediate the successive feed roller units there is arranged a series of heads carrying the finishing and setting rollers which for the present purpose are designated U, V, W, X, Y and Z, and, as will be described later in detail, are driven rapidly back and forth across the work pieces transversely to their direction of movement through the machine. The rate of speed of these heads is of the order of from 200 to 800 feet per minute. The leather pieces progress through the -machine at a comparably slow rate of travel as compared to the movement of the various finishing and setting heads, for example from 20 to 40 feet per minute. The heads carrying the finishing and settin rollers comprise carriages riding in suitable tracks or guideways, these carriages having mounted therein the rollers which bear against the leather work pieces to perform the finishing and setting thereof as the heads are reciprocated back and forth across the leather pieces as they are fed along. These rollers bear upon the leather pieces with sumcient pressure to accomplish the desired compacting smoothing and polishing result.

"On the base structure l there is mounted a platform |3 for the drive motor l4, which motor has a small drive pulley l5 over which run the multiple drive members indicated at I6.

Referring now to Figure 8, the drive members l6 engage a larger pulley I! mounted on shaft l8, having suitable bearings I9 on the framework.

Also fixed on the shaft I8 is a smaller pulley 20 engaging other multiple drive members 2| which engage the larger pulley 22.

The pulley 22 is fixed to a shaft 23, which is integrally associated with a multiple crank shaft mechanism generally indicated at 24.

The crankshaft 24 i driven, through the mechanism described, by the motor 4. However, as seen in Figure 1, the driving energy thus transmitted is applied to the right end of the crankshaft 24, Due to its various arms and to its length, it is desirable that the crankshaft also receive driving power at its left end. With this object in view, the crankshaft is provided at its left end with a large pulley 25 similar to the pulley 22 on the right. The pulley 25 is engaged by multiple driving means or belts 26.

Referring now to Figure 2, the multiple belts 26, running over the left pulley 25, are driven by a smaller pulley 21, fixed on the shaft l8. The shaft |8 extend the full length of the machine, as seen in Figure 1, and is itself driven from motor "M as above described in connection with Figures 1 and 8.

As seen in Figures 1 and 2, the left end of the crankshaft 24 also has afiixed to it a small sprocket 28. A chain 29 driven thereby rotates a larger sprocket 30. The sprocket 39 is freely rotatable on a stub shaft 3|, which shaft in turn is journaled in a suitable bearing bracket 32. A friction disc 33, splined or slidably keyed to the stub shaft 3| is urged against the face of the sprocket 30 by means of a spring 34. The spring is retained on the shaft 3| by a washer 35 and an adjustable nut 35. Thus the stub shaft 3| is frictionally driven by friction disc.

The stub shaft 3| has fixed to its right end a small beveled pinion gear 31 which drives a larger bevel gear 38 fixed on the shaft 39. The shaft 39 is integral with the lower roll of the first feed roller unit. Also fixed on shaft 39 a sprocket 40 drives a chain 4|, which chain travels the length of the machine to drive all of the various feed roll units as will later be described. Idler sprockets 42, 43 and 44 serve to aid in guiding the chain 4| in its path of travel.

The friction drive provided by the friction disc 33 and its associated elements, as described, serves as a safety device permittin slippage to occur if the drive roll units become clogged or otherwise overloaded.

The crankshaft 24 is mounted in a series of suitable bearing stands indicated generally at 45 and affixed to the base ID. A series of crank arms 46 are formed in the crankshaft and each arm is provided with a connecting rod 41. In Figure 8 there is clearly shown one of the crank arms 46 and its connecting rod 41. It will here be observed that the connecting rod 41 is connected to a rod or bar 48 which is itself pivoted at 48a to the base I8. Rotary motion of the crankshaft will thus cause the rod 48 to be oscillated back and forth. The rod 48 may be referred to as a rocker bar. All the other crank arms of the crankshaft 24 will .be associated with similar rocker bars.

Still referring to Figure 8 the rocker bar 48 has pivotally affixed at its upper end, a driving rod 49.

Referring now to Figure 9, which is a typical sectional view through any one of the various heads carrying the finishing rollers, the driving rod 49 has pivoted attachment at 50 to the head indicated generally at 5|. As will later be more apparent, the finishing head 5| (as Well as all other of the various finishing heads) is mounted on suitable tracks which serve to guide it in a straight line, or rectilinear path, as it travels back and forth across the leather pieces as they are fed along.

In Figure 8 it will be apparent that the oscillating movement of the various rocker bars 48, transmitted through the drive rods 49, drive the various finishing heads in their movements back and forth across the machine at substantially right angles to the direction of feeding of the leather pieces through the machine.

The various crank arms 45, connected to the crankshaft 24, will preferably be equally spaced about the circumference of a circle. In this way vibration created by rapid reciprocation of the various heads carrying the finishing rollers, is reduced.

Referring to Figure 3, a typical detailed section through any one of the various feed roller units is shown, each feed roller unit comprisng a lower feed roller 52 having journaled ends fitted in bearing blocks 53 and 54. Fixed to the lower feed roller 52 is a sprocket 55 engaged and driven by the chain 4| previousiy mentioned, which drives the feed roller 52. The upper feed rolier 56 is journaled at its right end in a slidable bearing block 51 and at its left end in a similar slidable bearing block 58.

Fixed to the right end of this upper feed roller 56 a sprocket 59 is engaged by a chain 60 which drives the feed roller. The chain 63 is .itseli driven by one side of a double sprocket 62 on a stud 63 as shown in Figure 1. The double sprocket 62 is itself driven by the drive chain 4| which engages the teeth 64 and, travels a somewhat tortuous path engaging alternately a lower consequently the feed rollers 56.

assess-s ing blocks 51 and 58 are mounted in suitable to cause the work pieces to be firmly and positively engaged between the feed rollers and thus fed. through the machine from left to right.

To accomplish the lifting or lowering of the -upper feed rollers we have provided pneumatic pistons. Referring again to Figure 3, the slidable bearing blocks and 58 are engaged by collars B1 and 68 respectively which are fixed to the lower ends of adjusting screws 69 and Ill. The screws 69 and is have threaded engagement Within members H and 12 which are integrally associated with the pistons 13 and Hi. These pistons 13 and M are operative within suitable pneumatic cylinders 15 on the right and 16 on the left.

Referring again to Figure 1, it will be apparent that each of the feed roller units is supplied with a similar pair of the pneumatic pistons and cylinders, the front cylinder of each of the various units being shown at 15.

The various cylinders are supplied with pneumatic pressure by supply lines 11 and i8. It will also be observed that the various cylinders are connected in multiple so that lifting or lowering of all upper feed rolls of the various units will occur simultaneously, and it will be understood that the cooperating cylinders on the opposite side of the machine are similarly connected in multiple to supply lines. to be presently described.

Referring again to Figure 3, which shows diagrammatically the arrangement of the pneumatic system, there is indicated at 19 a source or supply of cmpressed air. The air flowing from this source passes through a regulating valve 85 adjustable to maintain a constant desired pressure in the line 8!. The line 8| is connected to valve 82. From this valve 82 the pressure may be selectively directed through either the line i! or the line it, as the operator desires. It will be apparent that if the pressure is directed through the line Ti it will be introduced into the upper end of cylinder l5 causing the piston 13 and its associated elements H, 69 and 51., to

be urged downwardly. Simultaneously, pressure will flow through the branch line Tia to enter the upper end of cylinder is, causing its piston Ill and its associated elements 76, ii! and 58 to be also urged downwardly. Thus the roller 55 carried in the sliding bearing blocks 51 and 58 will be urged downwardly to engage the work pieces under pressure. It will be apparent that if the pressure is directed through the lines is and 18a, the pressure will flow into the lower ends of the av inders i5 and TE thus lifting the pistons and The valve 82 has an exhaust port 83 for the air displaced from the cylinders as the pistons are moved. It will be understood that the supply lines ll and are connected to all of the various pneumatic cylinders on the right of the. machine (as seen in Figure 3) and that the lines 11a and 18a supply all of the cooperating cylinders on the left.

All of the various feed roll units are substantially similar. But preferably successive pairs of .the feed rollers 52 and 5B are progressively slightly larger in diameter, so that each succeeding pair of rollers tends to advance a leather piece slightly faster than the preceding pair of rolls. The result is that each leather piece as it is fed along, is slightly stressed in its direction of travel creating and maintaining a taut and desirable condition while the finishing rolls are driven back and forth across its surface.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectiona view through the initial feed roller units A, B and C, and elevational details of the intervening finishing heads U, V and W, are also shown. One of the leather work pieces is indicated at M. The piece is being carried to the right as seen in this figure by the action of the feed rollers 52 and es of each of the units A and B. During its movement between these successive it ed roller units the leather piece is supported on a rigid plate or table 85. The table is reenforced by a, heavy channel 85 carried in the frame of the machine. Similar tables 85 are likewise provided between each successive pair of the feed roller units. These tables coact with the various finishing h. ads to support the work piece as it is carried through the machine and subjected to the rolling and setting operations of the finishing rollers. As the leather work pieces emerge from each pair of the feed rollers 52 and 56, the leather may tend to curl or bend upwardly, thus deviating from the desired path of travel. To prevent this condition, guide plates or hold-down membrs indicated at 89 may be employed, the members 89 being fixed to the sliding bearing blocks l and '58 of the feed rollers 56.

The leather work pieces as are preferably fed manually by an operator from the table 81 into the first pair of feed rollers of the unit A. While traveling from feed unit A to unit B, the head carrying the finishing rollers generally indicated at U, recip-rocates rapidly back and forth across the work to perform an initial operation of rolling and setting. While traveling from unit B to unit C the head V will reciprocate rapidly back and forth across the work piece affecting a further rolling and setting of the leather. Thus as the work is carried through the machine, the leather is progressively subjected to a complete and thorough rolling and setting operation by the operation of the various successive finishing heads. In Figure l the leather pieces emerge from the last pair of feed rollers in unit G, onto the receiving table 88. It is to be understood that the machine herein shown and described is not to be limited to the precise arrangement or number of the feed roll units and finishing heads disclosed and for some purposes machines with single feeding units and rolling units may be employed.

Referring now to Figures 6, 9 and 12, each of the reciprocating drive rods ie, as previously described, are pivotally attached, as at), to a finishing head. The pin 5! extends between a pair ofside plates 9%: and BI in which plates the pin 5!] is fixed and serves as a spacer therebetween. The plates at and 9! are also provided with other spacing elements in the form of rods .IEI.

.each end to the side plates 90 and iii. arm H3 is free to rotate on the shaft II2. Also =carried on the shaft I I2 is a bracket I I4 having .lever arms II5 and H6 each of which mounts a 'mounting of one of the rollers.

a heavy rubber or other resilient sleeve 9i 'andfl which are threaded at each end to receive lock nuts 94.

Mounted on the rods 92 and 93 are rollers 95 which engage the under side of track memb rs 96, which are carried by the framework of the machine. The rods 92 and 93 have sleeves 9i and '98 respectively which sleeves serve as spacer members for a second or inner pair of plates 99 and I00. The plates 99 and I0!) each carry an upper roller I9! which engages the upper side of the track member 96. As best seen in Figure 6 the rollers IUI are mounted on studs I02 which have lock nuts H33 and enlarged heads I04. The mounting diameter of the pin IE2 is eccentric to the mounting of the roller bearing IGI so that when the pin is revolved the spacing of the lower 'roller bearing assembly is changed in relation to the upper bearing assembly so as to hold the roller snug to the rail 96. The enlarged heads I04 engage an invertzd U-shaped member I85 ber I86 may be adjusted by means of the set screws III].

The rollers I539 being mounted on vertical ares ride upon suitable side track members III (as seen in Figure 6), s-cured in the framework of the machine.

It will thus be seen that the plates 98 85 together with the rollers 95, plates 99 and I62,

.and rollers IGI form a carriage confined against ;undue upward or downward movement by the rollers 95 and IIBI engaging the track 96. It will also be apparent that undue side movement is restricted by the rollers IE9 engaging the tracks Thus, as shown in Figure 9, as it is reciprocated by the drive rod 49, the carriage is guided back and forth in a straight line and confined thereto by the tracks and rollers just described.

Pivotally mounted in the side plates 99 and 9| of the carriage and extending therebetween, is a pin or stub shaft I I2. The pin or stub shaft I I2 is pinned, as shown at IIZa in Figure 12, at The lever leather-finishing roller respectively. The bracket I I4 is fixed to the lever I 53 for movement therewith. The leather finishing rollers are indicated at In and III], as shown in Figure 4. These fin- ..ishing rollers are rotatably mounted on pins H9 and I29 carried in the bracket II Z.

Figure 11 shows a preferred construction and As here shown the pin I20 has a central spacer or sleeve I2I for ball bearing races I22 on each side. The ball bearings mount a rotatable sleeve 23 which in turn is aflixed to, and preferably surrounded by, I24. Where a single roller is used a rubber sleeve is ordinarily not used. The resilient sleeve I25 is itself contained in a metallic sleeve I25 mounting arim I26, which is contoured as shown and serves roll, the rim I26 being cut away as" at I2Ia. Re-

ferring briefly to Figure 6, it will be noted that the roll II8 carried by the finishing head U has a solid rim I26 not divided as the one above described. In the finishing head V there is shown one of the divided or double rollers having the groove I26a in its rim. It should be understood that the double roller is merely a preferred construction for the finishing rollers as single rollers may be employed in any of the various finishing heads as desired.

Referring again to Figure 9, the lever I I3 which may be integrally formed with the bracket 4, and is called the roller or ball bracket, constitute a rocking assembly serving to shift either of the finishing rollers H1 or H8 into contact against the leather piece as it is fed through the machine. The shifting or rocking of the rollers is accomplished by means of a pneumatic piston, to be described, and which has a pivoted connection as at I30 to the lever arm II3.

In Figure 9 the head has advanced to a position in which the roller II! has been rocked to position bearing upon and rolling across the leather piece as shown. The direction of travel is to the left as indicated by the arrow K. As shown, the finishing head will continue in its movement to the left so that the roller II! will pass across the left edge of the piece 84 and occupy the position indicated at la. The head assembly will then continue in its movement to the left until the relative positions of the leather piece 84 and the finishing rollers approximate the relation shown in Figure 10. In this position the parts are shown at the interval when the finishing head has just completed its stroke to the left. At this instant the position of the rollers Ill and I I8 is shifted or rocked by the pneumatic piston, so that the roll II8 now bears upon the work pieces as indicated in dotted lines at I I8b. With the roller I I! now lifted to the position indicated in dotted lines at I I'Ib, the finishing head begins its stroke to the right with the roller I I8 bearing against the work piece. As the finishing head nears the conclusion of this stroke or travel to the right, the roller II8 will, of course, roll over and off of the right hand edge (not shown) of the leather piece. Then, as this stroke to the right is completed the position of the rolls I I! and I I8 will again be shifted or rocked so that the roll I I i again bears against the work piece and, with the roll I I8 lifted, the direction of travel is again reversed. Thus as seen in Figure 9 the roller I I1 bears against the work piece while traveling to the left in that figure and the roller II 8 bears against the work while moving to the right. It will be observed that this control of the finishing rollers avoids contact against the edge of the leather piece of a finishing roller under pressure. The finishing rollers when rolling off the edges of the leather piece do not squeeze down the edges excessively.

Referring now to Figure 4 a preferred arrangement or mounting of the finishing rollers is illustrated. It will here be noted that the rollers I I1 and II 8 are mounted with angular relation to each other by means of the pins I I 9 and I20 carried in the member I I I.

Referring to the diagrams in Figure 5 it will be observed that the work piece 84 is fed slowly in the direction indicated by the arrow P while the finishing head carrying the roller I ll moves rapidly in the direction of arrow Q. The resultant path of travel of the roller I I1 across the work piece is in the direction of the line or arrow R. Thus the angular or axial mounting of the roller H1 is preferably at a right angle to this resultant path of travel and the roller therefore traverses the leather work piece with true rolling action. A minimum of said slippage of the roller across the leather surface occurs and movement of the work piece in its travel through the machine tends to be unimpeded. As the finishing head commences its return stroke or travel to the right, as seen in Figure 10, the rollers will be rocked by the pneumatic piston so that the roller II 8 will be brought to bear against the work piece. The resultant path of travel of this roller is approximated by the line or arrow S, and it is to be noted that the axial mounting of the roller is again at a right angle or perpendicular to this resultant path of travel, so that true rolling action is obtained.

It will be apparent that the shifting of the rollers Ill and H8 alternately into contact with the work piece provides a true rolling action thereupon with a minimum of slippage, and that the angular mounting of these rollers as just described, and which compensate for the movement of the leather pieces, tends to bring about this true rolling action.

It will further be observed that the rocking action of the carriage carrying the finishing rollers takes advantage of a leverage principle by which the downward pressure of that finishing roller which is in contact with the work piece is greatly increased.

As best seen in Figure 9 the pneumatic piston for shifting the finishing rollers is indicated at I3I.. The piston is operative within a cylinder I32 which in turn is pivotally fixed at I33 to a bracket I34 itself clamped by bolts I34a to the reciprocating drive rod 49 previously described. Also carried on the bracket I34 is a suitable valve I35 for controlling movement of the piston. The valve is supplied with pneumatic pressure by supply line I36 and directs flow of the pressure to either end of the cylinder I32 either through the line I31 or the line I38. The position of the valve is controlled or shifted by means of studs or pins I 39 mounted in the frame of the machine. These pins I39 on the right and I39a on the left are mounted in the path of a lever arm I40 con trolling the valve I35. At the conclusion of each finishing stroke the arm I40 will strike one of these pins and will thus be shifted to affect movement of the piston.

It will be understood that each of the various finishing heads is provided with a pneumatic piston and valve I35 as just described.

Each of the valves I35 has an exhaust pipe I4I whereby the air displaced by movement of the piston I3I passes back through the line I4I to an exhaust manifold I43 as shown in Figure 8. The pneumaticsupply lines I35 of the various heads will be connected to a supply manifold I42.

Figure 8 shows diagrammatically the arrange- .reent of pneumatic apparatus employed. It will be noted that the exhaust air from the manifold I43 is directed into a receiver I44. This receiver has an opening I44a whereby air may be charged into or; released from the system. The usual compressor I45, dehydrator and filter I46, pressure tank I41 and regulating valve I48 are also employed. It will be observed that, due to the receiver I44, a large part of the exhaust air, previously dehydrated and filtered, will be reemployed. Thus cleaner and drier air is maintained within the system. i

As a-safetv measure to preventdamage to the machine and/ or the leather pieces being conveyed therethrough, aseries of electronic devices commonly referred to as electric eyes are employed.

Referring to Figure '7, there is shown a light source I50 with its beam of light 'I5I directed to impinge upon a mirror I52. This mirror is arranged to reflect the beam as at IIa, the beam passing just above the normal path of travel of I54. In the event the work piece 84 should bewill be interrupted, thus causing the photoelectric cell to actuate certain electronic equipment diagrammatically indicated at I55. This equip-' ment in turn operates a relay I55 to actuate: a plugging switch 151 which plugging switch:-

throws the motor I4 into reverse effort and. main: tains this condition of, reverse effort in the motor until the machine .comes to a complete stop.- whereupon the motors source of power is broken and the entire mechanism remains at rest. Thus? 5 the motor I4 also serves as a braking device for bringing the entire machine to a quick stop be.

fore serious damage is likely to occur.

To prevent stoppage of the machine due to.

which deviations may be of no consequence, a delaying relay indicated at I58 is employed. This relay has a. dash pot arrangement (not shown) whereby its function of actuating the relay I55.

is delayed. In the machine shown it has been found advantageous that the period or duration of delay thus provided should be about one see-- ond. Thus a temporary deviation of the work piece will not cause unnecessary stoppage of the,

machine.

A light source and a photoelectric cell will preferably be employed in conjunction with eachof the feed roller units, but, of course, other types of electric systems and wiring arrangements may be employed as desired.

the finishing and polishing of leather or hides. the

principle of operation may be employed for rolling other material where it is desired to produce an effect akin to that produced on leather. Alternative types of mechanism may be employed or substituted, it being understood that the principles of operation as set. forth in our statement of objectives may, be accomplished inother ways.

5 Having thus described our invention, what w claim" as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent'is 1. In a power driven machine for rolling and settin g. leather having a series of sets of power an driven pinch feed rollers between which pieces "of leather are fed along flatwise, a series of cross heads carryingpressing and setting rollers headacarrying pressing and setting rollers op-f u arable i bstantiallycrosswise of the directionof the work pieces 84. A second mirror I53 reflects; the beam as at I5Ib into the photoelectric cell.

,m'inor or temporary deviations of the work piece,.

While the machine is particularly designed for ong from one set of feed rollers to another."

of cross heads carrying pressing rollers actuable crosswise of the machine in the space between each set of feed rollers, a rocking carriage on which said pressing rollers are mounted, and the rollers on each side of the pivot of the rocking carriage being mounted at such angles as will compensate and apply cross rolling pressure to leather pieces as they are fed along between the feed rollers.

4. In a machine for rolling and setting leather, a series of spaced feed rollers for feeding pieces of leather flatwise through the machine, a series of cross heads carrying pressing rollers actuable crosswise of the machine in the space be-' tween each set of feed rollers, a rocking carriage on which said pressing rollers are mounted, and

the rollers on each side of the pivot of the'rocking'carriage being mounted at such angles as will compensate and apply cross rolling pressure to leather pieces as they are'fed along between the feed rollers, and pneumatic means for actuating the rocking carriage at predetermined positions in their crosswis movement to prevent engagement against the edges of leather pieces as they are fed along.

In'a machine for rolling and setting leather, a series'of spaced feed rollers for feeding pieces of leather flatwise through the machine, a series of cross heads having rocking carriages on which spaced pressing rollers are mounted and actuable crosswise of the machine in the space between each set'of feed rollers, said spaced pressing rollers mounted one on one side of the pivot":

of the carriage and the other on the other side at slight angles to the crosswise direction of movement of said cross heads to apply rolling pressure without slippage as the pieces of leather are fed along.

6. In amachine for rolling the setting leather, a series of spaced feed rollers for feeding pieces of leather flatwise through the machine, a series of cross heads having rocking carriages on which spaced pressing rollers are mounted and actuable crosswise of the machine in the space between each set of feed rollers, said spaced pressing rollers mounted one on one side of the pivot of the carriage and the other on the other'side atslight angles to the crosswise direction of movement of said cross heads to apply rolling pressure without slippage as the pieces of leather are fed along, and pneumatic means for actuating'said rocking carriages.

7-.-=In a machine for rolling and setting leather, power driven spaced pinch feed rollers for feeding leather fiatwise, a cross head having a rocking carriage on which spaced pressing rollers are mounted said cross head actuable crosswise of the machine in the space between the feed rollers,

means for actuating said rocking carriage to cause elevation and depression of said pressing rollers so as to avoid edge compression of a moving leather piece by edge contact with a pressure roller under pressure.

8. In a machine for rolling and setting leather, power driven spaced pinch feed rollers for feeding leather flatwise, a cross head having a rock-' ing carriage on which spaced pressing rollers are mounted said cross head actuable crosswise of the machine in the space between the feed rollers, means for actuating said rocking carriage to cause elevation and depression of said pressing rollers so as to avoid edge compression of a moving leather piece by edge contact with a pressure roller under pressure, and pneumatic means con trolling said actuating means.

9. In a leather rolling and setting machine, means for continuously feeding a piece of leather through the machine and means for applying l rolling pressure to the piece widthwise across the piece as it is fed lengthwise, said means comprising pressure rollers arranged at such angles as to compensate for movement of the piece during the application of rolling pressure without side slippage.

10. In a leather rolling and setting machine, means for continuously feeding a piece of leather through the machine and means for applying rclling pressure to the piece widthwise across the piece as it is fed lengthwise, said means comprisingpressure rollers arranged atsuch angles as to compensate for movement of the piece during the application of rolling pressure without side slippage, and means for elevating the pressure rollers to avoid edge contact with the leather piece.

11. In a leather rolling and setting machine, means for continuously feeding a piece of leather through the machine and means for applying rolling pressure to the piece widthwise across the piece as it is fed lengthwise, said means comprising pressure rollers arranged at such angles as to compensate for movement of the piece during the application of rolling pressure without side slippage, and said means for applying rolling pres: sure pneumatically actuable.

MARL McMATH. JOHN C. HENNING. CHARLES R. SIMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,332,573 Hibschman Oct. 26, 1943 2,396,421

Henning Mar. 12, 1946 

